lost 50% of my scholarship by 5 people Forum

[rlaw12]

Hi everybody

My school's scholarship retention policy is conditional and reserves full retention for students finishing in the top 50% of the class. I ended up being ranked 129 out of 249 [~52%]. No shot at transferring anywhere and no attempts due to poor fall grades.

Is it worth it or likely to email admissions and financial aid begging for my scholarship to not be revoked?

Does my being 5 people away from full retention mean anything?

Does anyone have experience negotiating like this?

Thanks in advance!

[nixy]

Unfortunately this is why conditional scholarships are risky. I think you'd be best off making an appointment to go talk to financial aid and/or your dean of students in person about whether there's any possible wiggle room (I have no idea; probably not, but you don't risk anything by asking), and what you would need to do to get it back (like if you get your GPA up could you get the scholarship back, or part, and on what requirement?). I haven't experienced this myself, but a friend did, and I think was able to keep part of it/was told what she needed to do to get it back (though I also think that her scholarship was contingent on good standing, not top 50%, and she got put on probation, so not quite the same).

Again, I have no idea if there's any shot, but talk to them in person so they have to talk to you face to face, be polite and respectful and take responsibility, don't make excuses, and see if there's anything they can do.

[objctnyrhnr]

Hi everybody

My school's scholarship retention policy is conditional and reserves full retention for students finishing in the top 50% of the class. I ended up being ranked 129 out of 249 [~52%]. No shot at transferring anywhere and no attempts due to poor fall grades.

Is it worth it or likely to email admissions and financial aid begging for my scholarship to not be revoked?

Does my being 5 people away from full retention mean anything?

Does anyone have experience negotiating like this?

Thanks in advance!

Echo one of the wisest regular posters on here, Nixy, and believe it’s worth a shot but chances are slim. But at the same time, you have literally nothing to lose. Good luck and sorry that this happened to you.

[Bingo_Bongo]

That's a bummer, dude. Like nixy said, you might as well talk to somebody to see if there's anything that can be done.

I'm guessing there probably isn't, though. It's not like negotiating for a scholarship offer when you're applying to schools and trying to decide where to go. At that point, you as the student have leverage and something to offer (a higher LSAT and GPA than the school's median, which raises their rankings if they admit you). Going into 2L year, you really don't hold anything like that.

That being said, somebody there with some discretion might have a heart. It absolutely won't hurt to ask.

Good luck with everything.